Mounting rail adapter

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an electrical device with a modular construction, comprising at least one equipment module ( 1 ), preferably several equipment modules ( 1 ), the module(s) being fixed onto a mounting rail ( 2 ). To mount or dismount a module ( 1 ) from a mounting rail ( 2 ) in a simple manner, the module ( 1 ) is fixed onto an adapter ( 3 ) for mounting on the mounting rail ( 2 ). The adapter ( 3 ) for one embodiment fulfills its fixing function by use of a bistable snap-on process and is configured in such a way that no tool is required for the manual mounting or dismounting process. This adapter ( 3 ) includes an actuator button ( 8 ) used to move catch hooks ( 5 ) against spring forces to enable mounting and dismounting of the equipment module ( 1 ) to the adapter ( 3 ) and also to move catch hooks ( 18 ) or ( 23 ) to enable mounting and dismounting of adapter ( 3 ) to the mounting rail ( 2 ).

TECHNICAL DOMAIN

The invention relates to a modular electrical device which has at leastone equipment module, preferably several modules, and at least onemodule can be mounted on a mounting rail, according to the features ofthe preamble of claim 1.

PRIOR ART

A modular electrical device is known from EP 0 527 247 B1. Such a deviceconsists of several modules which can be electrically connected betweenone another and which modules are matched to the respective application.One application is electrical controls, especially memory-programmablecontrols. To match such a device to the respective application, it isnecessary to interconnect a certain number of equipment modules whichcan be controls, sensors, and/or actuators. For this purpose EP 0 527247 B1 discloses a flat mounting rail which is angled on its side edgesand on which the modules with their one side edge are suspended and arefixed on the opposite side edge on the mounting rail via a screwconnection. This type of attachment of modules on the mounting rail hasseveral disadvantages. On the one hand, the modules can tilt wheninserted with their one side edge onto the mounting rail so that easymounting or dismounting is hindered. On the other hand in order toattach the modules on the mounting rail or to detach them from themounting rail it is necessary to carry a tool for mounting ordismounting. This is a disadvantage with frequent modifications of anelectrical device that consists of several equipment modules. Moreoverthe construction of the electrical device prevents the removal ofseveral modules from being easily made when located next to one another;in particular, when a module is swiveled out, the tilting of theconnecting module part which electrically connects to another of themodules located in a row can occur.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is therefore to improve a modular electricaldevice like the one described above such that easy mounting ordismounting of equipment modules on a mounting rail is enabled.

This object is achieved by the features of claim 1.

It is provided as claimed for the invention that modules can be attachedvia an adapter to a mounting rail. Attachment of the modules via anadapter on the mounting rail has several advantages. On the one hand,the module itself, independently of the mounting rail, can be detachedfrom it and replaced. Thus rapid replacement or mounting of anothermodule is possible for several modules arranged in a row next to oneanother. On the other hand, the adapter can be made such that after itsmounting on the mounting rail it produces an electrical connection toits neighboring adapter or adapters, while likewise there is anelectrical connection between the adapter and the mounted equipmentmodule. Thus, when a module is inserted or replaced there are noproblems with electrical connections. In this way, when the module isinserted or replaced after it has been detached from the adapter, it canbe removed perpendicular to the adapter upwards, by which removal nodamage occurs to the electrical connections at all, especially plugconnections between an adapter and a module. Alternatively it also isconceivable that the adapter is an integral component of the equipmentmodule and is permanently connected to it, or the equipment module andthe adapter form a unit.

On the other hand, the adapter can be made such that for manual mountingor dismounting a tool is not necessary. This has the advantage that themodule can be placed on the mounting rail by hand and can be attachedthere or vice versa can be detached from the mounting rail by hand.Accordingly, it is not necessary to carry along a tool for mounting ordismounting, by which on the other hand fastening devices for which atool would be necessary can also be eliminated, thus the simplificationof the construction of the modules and handling in their attachment onthe mounting rail are enhanced.

In one development of the invention the adapter has various fasteningdevices, especially catch devices. On the one hand there are catchdevices with which an equipment module is held on the adapter. On theother hand, there are catch devices with which the adapter is held onthe mounting rail. These increase the flexibility of the overall systemsince different adapters can be reserved for different mounting railsand different modules. On the other hand, for uniformly configured catchdevices on the adapter and also corresponding catch devices on themodule and/or the mounting rail an increased diversity of parts isavoided. The catch devices and the snap connections joined to them againenable that connections between modules and adapters can be made withouttools on the one hand and adapters and the mounting rail on the other.The fastening devices also can be screw connections or elements ofequivalent type action, combinations also being possible.

In one development of the invention at least one of the catch devices,or alternatively all catch devices, are stationary mounted on theadapter. These catch devices which are stationary mounted and areoptionally elastic or are made flexible on the adapter form contactswith the corresponding areas of modules or on the mounting rail,especially its side edge which runs lengthwise. Furthermore, other catchdevices, especially all other catch devices, are movably mounted on theadapter. In this way, depending on the direction of motion of themovable catch devices, the equipment module can be fixed on the adapteror detached, in exactly the same way as the adapter is fixed on themounting rail or detached. To move the catch devices there are one ormore actuators which act on the respective movable catch devices orgroups of them or all of them. In one configuration of the inventionthere is an actuator for the movable catch devices in order to fix themodule on the adapter or to detach it. There is another actuator to movethe movable catch devices on the adapter, to fix the adapter on themounting rail, or to detach it from the latter. In another embodimentthere is only one single actuator to move all movable catch devices atthe same time, in order to fix the module on the adapter and the adapteron the mounting rail at the same time, or to detach it.

In one development of the invention the movable catch devices areactuated by a spring force. The spring force is applied advantageouslyin the direction such that when the module is seated on the adapter orthe adapter is seated on the mounting rail the movable catch devices aremoved out of their rest position against the spring force and after themodule is seated on the mounting rail they assume their rest positionagain in order to fix the module on the adapter or adapters on themounting rail immovably in their respective positions to one another.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Possible embodiments of the modular electrical device as claimed for theinvention or its adapter are described below and explained using thefigures, the invention not being limited to the described andillustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of an equipment module;

FIG. 2 shows a view of an adapter for the module from underneath;

FIGS. 3 to 5 show detailed views of the adapter;

FIGS. 6 to 8 show detailed views of the adapter mounted on a mountingrail;

FIGS. 9 to 11 show other detailed views of the adapter;

FIGS. 12 to 23 show alternative embodiments for attachment of the modulevia the adapter on the mounting rail.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows in schematic form an equipment module 1 which is forexample a control module, a sensor, an actuator, a combination of thesecomponents or the like. Several of these modules 1 generally are mountedwith their lengthwise sides parallel to one another on a mounting rail2, preferably a mounting rail made according to German Industry StandardEN 50022 or EN 50023, especially positioned next to one another in orderto maintain given positions of the modules 1 among one another. Themounting rail 2 which can be mounted stationary fixes several modules 1next to one another in their positions. They can be electrically cabledfrom there, optionally with the aid of connections, among one another.

It also is provided as claimed for the invention that the module 1 canbe attached via an adapter 3, especially of plastic, onto the mountingrail 2. Here the adapter 3 first takes over a pure fastening functionbetween the module 1 and the mounting rail 2. In addition, the adapter 3can assume connection functions, especially electrical connections,between several modules 1. The adapter 3 shown in FIG. 1 is configuredsuch that in the Z direction it is seated from overhead onto themounting rail 2 and can be fixed there in its position, especiallywithout a mounting or dismounting tool being necessary. The same appliesto the module 1 which can be fixed in its position likewise in the Zdirection on the adapter 3. Alternative embodiments include those inwhich the module 1 and the adapter 3 form a unit so that this unit canbe mounted in the Z direction on the mounting rail 2 or can bedismounted from it.

FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of the adapter 3 without the module 1, andthe mounting rail 2 which runs under the adapter 3 as shown in partialsection.

FIGS. 3 to 5 show detail views of the adapter 3 according to the presentinvention. It being shown in FIG. 3 that in the direction of the module1 there are first catch devices, specifically at least one stationaryelastic catch hook 4 and at least one likewise stationary or alsoalternatively movable elastic catch hook 5. These catch hooks 4 and 5fit into corresponding recesses on the bottom of the module 1 so thatafter the catch hooks 4 and 5 catch in the corresponding recesses in themodule 1, it is connected permanently to the adapter 3. The capacity formovement of the catch hooks 4 and 5 is detailed below.

FIG. 4 shows the bottom of the adapter 3 pointed in the direction of themounting rail 2, with catch hooks 6 projecting out of the adapter 3.

FIG. 5 shows the adapter 3 from its top which is pointed in thedirection of the bottom of the module 1. The adapter 3 has a middlebridge 7 with an actuator 8 located on its end. Furthermore there is astop 9 which is connected to it and which can act on the catch hook 5when the actuator 8 is moved, but need not necessarily do so, by whichit can be pushed out of its catch position and the module 1 can beremoved from the adapter 3. The middle bridge 7 can be moved in thelengthwise direction of the adapter 3. For detachment of the module 1from the adapter 3 the catch hooks 5 can be located on a bridge,especially the bridge 7. In addition to the middle bridge 7, there aretwo side bridges 10 which are guided identically or similarly in thesame direction, and which are connected via at least one compressionelement, especially several compression elements 11, and via pertinentfilm hinges 12 to the middle bridge 7 in order to produce a springforce. The bridges 7 and/or 10 are attached and guided via elastic guideelements 13 on the frame of the adapter 3. On the side bridges 10 thereare in turn catch hooks 14 (discussed below). Thus the two side bridges10 can be moved in the same way as the middle bridge 7 when pushpressure is applied to the actuator 8 or the actuator 8 is pulled. Inthis case movable catch hooks 18 or 23 (discussed below) come to restagainst the side edge of the mounting rail 2.

FIGS. 6 to 8 show detail views of the adapter 3 which is mounted on themounting rail 2. An intermediate plate 15 is placed on the tops of thebridges 7 and 10 and is fixed by the catch hooks 14 of the side bridges10. Thus no relative movement of the intermediate plate 15 to thebridges is possible. Movement of bridge 10 in the X direction ispossible. Optionally the metal intermediate plate 15 is provided with anarm 16, especially an elastic plate, which can enable electrical contactbetween the mounting rail 2 and the module 1. The intermediate plate 15has recesses 17 to accept the catch hooks 14 and the latter fit into therecesses and fix the intermediate plate 15 with reference to the bridges7 and 10.

FIG. 7 shows the bottom of the adapter 3, after the intermediate plate15 has been connected to the adapter 3, from which it is apparent thatthe intermediate plate 15 has catch hooks 18 which are pointed in thedirection of the mounting rail 2.

FIG. 8 shows the location and the configuration of the catch hooks 18,and specifically that the intermediate plate 15 on its bottom has alengthwise edge 19 with which it can lie on the top edge of the mountingrail 2, optionally elastically. Furthermore, in the end area of thelengthwise edge 19 there is a projection 20 which forms the catch hook18 and which corresponds to the angling on the side edges of themounting rail 2. Thus the catch hook 18 of the intermediate plate 15 canreach behind a lengthwise edge of the mounting rail 2.

The adapter 3 performs with respect to the mounting rail 2 an attachmentfunction that is based on a bistable snapping process. The snappingprocess for adapter 3 occurs between the middle bridge 7 and the twoside bridges 10 which are coupled stiffly to one another via theintermediate plate 15. A snapping force is generated by movement of theactuator 8 in the X direction from the compression elements 11,detachment of the catch hook 6 takes place when the catch hook 18 of theintermediate plate 15 is fixed to be stationary for the time being onthe mounting rail 2. Detachment of the catch hooks 18 is consequentlycaused after the forces from the X direction components, which form inthe compression elements 11 have undergone a reversal of direction, at adefined snap point over the path of the actuator 8 or the middle bridge7 which is rigidly connected to it opposing motion of the side bridges10 and the intermediate plate 15 which is connected to them in thenegative X direction is initiated. The opposing paths of the catch hooks6 and 18 with respect to the snap point can if necessary be defined viathe correspondingly matched stops and/or catches with respect to thestop 9, and these stops can be provided either on the adapter 3 or onthe module 1 which is to be attached to it. The catch devices which arenecessary for fixing the adapter 3 on the mounting rail 2 after mountingadjoin the mounting rail 2 largely without force in order to avoidtwisting within the adapter 3. Only a small force is applied to themounting rail 2 in order to ensure zero backlash between the adapter 3and mounting rail 2 (pretensioning).

FIGS. 9 to 11 show other detailed views of the adapter 3 which is usedespecially when there is no electrical connection, but only a pureattachment function between the module 1 and the mounting rail 2 is tobe accomplished. Then the adapter 3 can consist integrally of plastic.

There is in turn a mounting plate 21 (of metal or plastic), the adapter3 furthermore having a side elongated recess 22. The catch hooks 23which correspond to the catch hooks 18 are not attached to the mountingplate 21 as shown by examining FIG. 10, but are attached to the sidebridge and thus are likewise movable. The mounting plate 21 is locatedon the other side bridge via a folding hinge 24 (or film hinge) and isfixed via a snap element 25 that is plane-parallel to the surface of thebridges on them. Here therefore the catch hooks 23 corresponding to thecatch hooks 18 are securely attached to the side bridges 12 (analogouslyto the catch hook 6 on the middle bridge 7) by an injection process.Stiff coupling of the side bridges 10 is ensured by the mounting plate21 which is connected on one of the side bridges 10 via a folding hinge24 and to the opposite side bridge via the corresponding snap element25.

Advantages of the described approaches are the following:

Opposing motion of the catch hooks 6 and 18 is initiated in bothdirections, i.e. both when the adapter 3 is attached and also detachedfrom the mounting rail 2 with only one movement of the actuator 8.

Relative to functionality, the connection of the module 1 to themounting rail 2 represents a very economical two-part or one-partapproach.

The adapter 3 can be very easily removed from the mold in only onedirection, i.e. it can be easily produced with only two tool halves.

Very simple mounting of the module 1 on the adapter 3 and thus on themounting rail 2 by snap connections so that mounting or dismounting ispossible without tools.

Although the described approaches in terms of construction are designedfor a minimum of individual parts, they can of course also be made inseveral parts according to the same principle, such as for examplemetallic compression springs instead of compression elements 11,slideways instead of elastic guide elements 13, screw instead of snapconnections, and the like.

In addition, FIGS. 12 to 23 show, as do the preceding figures, the samefunctioning of the previously shown and described structures indifferent orientations for the attachment of an equipment module 1 viathe adapter 3 of the present invention to the mounting rail 2, thealready described fastening principle, specifically the bistablesnapping process, having been retained. Only the construction of theadapter 3 is optimized with respect to its functionality (especiallyease of the movement) and its handling.

As shown in FIGS. 1-7, 9, 10 and 13-21, and as described above anactuator 8 is provided on adapter 3. When this actuator 8 is moved, asalso described above, all of bridges 7 and 10 are moved in the samedirection as actuator 8 is moved. Extending from bridge 7 are catchhooks 5, and extending from bridges 10 are either attached catch hooks18 (see FIGS. 1, 2, 7, 8, 12, 13 and 19) or catch hooks 23 (see FIGS. 10and 22). Movement of catch hooks 5 by movement of actuator 8 fixes ordetaches equipment module 1 to or from adapter 3. Simultaneously,movement of catch hooks 18 or catch hooks 23 by movement of actuator 8fixes or detaches adapter 3 to or from rail 2.

1. A modular electrical device comprising; at least one equipmentmodule; a mounting rail; at least one adapter to which said at least oneequipment module is removably mounted adjacent a top surface of said atleast one adapter, and said at least one adapter also is removablymounted to said mounting rail adjacent a bottom surface of said at leastone adapter, said at least one adapter including a first bridge disposedfor sliding movement between and parallel to both the top surface andthe bottom surface of said at least one adapter; and, at least one firstcatch hook, said first catch hook being disposed from said first bridge.2. The modular electrical device according to claim 1 further comprisingsecond fastening means disposed from said at least one adapter forremovably mounting said at least one adapter to said mounting rail. 3.The modular electrical device according to claim 2, wherein said secondfastening means is at least one second catch hook disposed from said atleast one adapter.
 4. The modular electrical device according to claim2, wherein said second fastening means is a second catch hook, and saidsecond catch hook is disposed from a second bridge that is disposed forsliding movement between and parallel to both said first and secondsurfaces of said at least one adapter.
 5. The modular electrical deviceaccording to claim 1 further comprising a first spring disposed betweensaid at least one adapter and said first bridge, said first springapplies a spring force against said first bridge to provide for movementof said first bridge.
 6. The modular electrical device according toclaim 4 further comprising a second spring disposed between said atleast one adapter and said second bridge, said second spring applies aspring force against said second bridge to provide for movement of saidsecond bridge.
 7. The modular electrical device according to claim 3further comprising a second catch hook that is disposed from said atleast one adapter, when said second second catch hook is disposedadjacent said mounting rail to retain said at least one adapter to saidmounting rail said second second catch hook is not bent due to relativepositions between said at least one adapter and said mounting rail. 8.The modular electrical device according to claim 3 further comprising:an intermediate plate disposed between said at least one adapter andsaid at least one equipment module, wherein said second catch hook is anintermediate plate catch hook that extends from said intermediate plateand said intermediate plate catch hook is disposed to extend from saidat least one adapter to mount said at least one adapter to said mountingrail.
 9. The modular electrical device according to claim 8, whereinsaid intermediate plate and said intermediate plate catch hook areelectrically conductive so that when said at least one equipment moduleis mounted on said at least one adapter and when said at least oneadapter is mounted on said mounting rail there is an electricalinterconnection between said at least one equipment module and saidmounting rail.
 10. The modular electrical device according to claim 8,wherein at least two intermediate plate catch hooks are disposed fromsaid intermediate plate.
 11. A modular electrical device comprising: atleast one equipment module; a mounting rail; at least one adapter towhich said at least one equipment module is removably mounted adjacent atop surface of said at least one adapter, and said at least one adapteralso is removably mounted to said mounting rail adjacent a bottomsurface of said at least one adapter; a first fastening means disposedfrom said at least one adapter for removably mounting said at least oneadapter to said mounting rail; a second fastening means disposed fromsaid at least one adapter for removably mounting said at least oneadapter to said mounting rail; a first bridge disposed for slidingmovement between and parallel to both the top surface and the bottomsurface of said at least one adapter; a second bridge disposed forsliding movement between and parallel to both the top surface and thebottom surface of said at least one adapter; said first fastening meansdisposed from said first bride and said second fastening means disposedfrom said second bridge; and, an actuator disposed from said firstbridge so that when force is applied to said actuator all of said firstand second bridges and disposed first fastening means and disposedsecond fastening means are further disposed to be moved together. 12.The modular electrical device according to claim 11 further comprising afirst spring and a second spring, said first spring disposed betweensaid at least one adapter and said first bridge, said second springdisposed between said at least one adapter and said second bridge, saidfirst spring and said second spring apply spring forces against saidfirst and second bridges to provide for movement of said first andsecond bridges and both said first fastening means and said secondfastening means toward a stop disposed on said at least one adapter.